Pastoral Counseling Degree Online – General Crafting Effective Pastoral Counseling

36

Credit Hours

View Courses

100% online, 8-week courses

Transfer in up to 50% of the degree total

Are you passionate about helping others in the context of a Christian environment? At Liberty, you can pursue a biblical counseling degree and better prepare for a career in Christian counseling. With specialized training, you can further develop your skills and study leading techniques in counseling that can benefit your congregation, community, or nonprofit organization.

With a Master of Arts (MA) in Pastoral Counseling – General from Liberty University, you can take courses that will sharpen and challenge you in both the education and counseling field from a biblical perspective. In addition, our general track allows you to hone your skills with a wide selection of courses available across our specializations for pastoral counseling.

Whether you are currently serving as a pastor and want to bolster your counseling skills or are seeking positions of added responsibility, a biblical counseling degree online can help.

*Some exclusions apply. Please refer to our exclusions page for more information.


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What Sets Us Apart?

  • Private Nonprofit University
  • 600+ Online Degrees
  • No Standardized Testing for Admission
  • Transfer in up to 75% of an Undergrad Degree
  • Transfer in up to 50% of a Grad/Doctoral Degree

If you are already a ministry professional and want to branch out into pastoral counseling, our online Christian counseling degree can help you aid people who are struggling with spiritual and mental health crises. This program will help build on your previous ministry experience so you can provide the best possible pastoral care to those in your church community.

The M.A. in Pastoral Counseling gives students the option to attend residential intensives. While not required, these intensives offer a valuable opportunity to visit our beautiful campus in Lynchburg, Virginia — and to connect in-person with other pastoral counseling students and faculty.

If you’re worried that school will get in the way of your other commitments and priorities, we have just what you need. This degree is offered 100% online, and the courses have no set login times — which means you can complete your classes from the comfort of your home and stay invested in your family and career while earning your degree.

Our pastoral counseling professors have years of experience working in professional ministry settings. They are ready and eager to share their expertise with you as you take this important next step in your academic journey. With their guidance, you can develop a deeper understanding of how to meet people’s spiritual and psychological needs.


As you pursue your masters in biblical counseling, you will begin by studying topics that introduce biblical techniques for counseling. Additionally, you will take courses in marriage and family counseling, multicultural issues in counseling, and crisis intervention counseling. You will also have the opportunity to apply your knowledge in the pastoral counseling field with an internship experience.

Throughout your degree, you can also pick and choose courses that reflect your interests in counseling. Whether you want to take courses in human sexuality, gerontology, or marriage and family, there are a variety of courses you can choose from!

Degree Completion Plan (PDF)


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Not sure what to choose?

Speak to one of our admissions specialists to help you choose the program that best fits your needs.

Your success is our success, which is why we are committed to providing quality academics at an affordable tuition rate. While other colleges are increasing their tuition, we have frozen tuition rates for the majority of our undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs for the past 9 years – and counting.

Grad & Postgrad Divinity Block Rate (9-15 credit hours) $2,750
Grad & Postgrad Divinity Part Time (0-8.99 or over 15 credit hours) $395/Credit
Military Grad & Postgrad Divinity Block Rate (9-15 credit hours) $2,475
Military Grad & Postgrad Divinity Part Time (0-8.99 or over 15 credit hours) $275/Credit

These rates also apply to the MA in Pastoral Counseling, which falls under the School of Behavioral Sciences.

All Tuition & Fees


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Military

Liberty University is dedicated to providing world-class educational experiences to military students across the globe.

Who May Qualify?

  • Active Duty
  • Reserve/National Guard
  • Veterans/Retirees
  • Spouses of Service Members and Veterans/Retirees
  • Current Department of Defense Employees

Available Benefits:

  • Tuition discounts – $275 per credit hour for graduate courses
  • Additional discount for veterans who service in a civilian capacity as a First Responder (less than $625 per course)*
  • 8-week courses, 8 different start dates each year, and no set login times (may exclude certain courses such as practicums, internships, or field experiences)

*Not applicable to certificates.